Inmate dies after he is found unresponsive in Ventura County jail cell

A 31-year-old inmate at Ventura County jail was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, authorities reported.

Andrew Ricardez, of Ventura, had been in jail since Nov. 24. According to court records, Ricardez faced a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon and a not guilty plea had been entered on his behalf.

At 10:48 a.m. Saturday, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said, deputies found Ricardez unresponsive in his cell. Ventura City Fire Department and ambulance personnel were called to the jail, and Ricardez was taken to Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:05 p.m., the Sheriff's Office said.

Capt. Garo Kuredjian said Ricardez was the only one housed in that cell.

Deputies generally check on inmates every hour. In this case, Kuredjian said, deputies reported seeing and speaking to Ricardez about 20 minutes before finding him unresponsive.

The cause of death was under investigation, pending an autopsy by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office, authorities said.